SEVERAL rule changes will be in force for the forthcoming season following the annual meeting of the International FA Board (IFAB) in Cardiff.
The most significant update relates to the denial of a goalscoring opportunity inside the penalty area.
This season, if a player is deemed to have made a genuine attempt to play the ball or challenge an opponent, the punishment will be a yellow card, rather than a red.
The player can still be sent off for handball; holding, pushing or pulling; not attempting to play the ball; not having a chance to play the ball, or if they commit a serious foul challenge (including violent conduct).
Other changes:
* The ball can be kicked backwards from a kick-off
* A player may be sent off any time after the referee enters the field for the pre-match inspection. If this happens, the team can still start the match with 11 players, but the player who received the red card can take no part in the match.
* Offside free kicks to be taken from where the offence has occurred. That can be inside their own half, if an offside player has come back from the opponents' half into their own in order to play the ball.
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